Two BJJ legends are helping Silva prepare: Ronaldo
“Jacare” Souza (ADCC 2005 88-kg champion and multiple-time
world BJJ champion in his weight class and the absolute class) and
André
GalvÃ£o (current world BJJ Champion and ADCC 2007 third-place
finisher at 77 kilograms and the absolute class).

“I’m studying Thales’ fights, imitating his way of fighting, in
order to help Anderson,” explained GalvÃ£o, whose left eye was
purple after a hard sparring session on Feb. 10. “This is the
result of two high kicks. He hit me while I was trying to take him
down. Anderson never stops and changes his base all the time, which
makes him hard to clinch and take down. I admire Thales a lot, but
I would bet all my money on Anderson.”

In early February, GalvÃ£o was the highlight of the Brazilian ADCC
Trials. He submitted five of his six opponents to earn a spot in
the 88-kg bracket of the submission wrestling tournament.

Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza
and André GalvÃ£o (right).

“If ADCC 2009 is really confirmed for September, I may compete. But
now my main focus is MMA, and Anderson is helping me a lot,” said
GalvÃ£o, who is confirmed for the 76-kg Dream grand prix in April.
“Training every day with him, Jacaré, FeijÃ£o and sometimes the
[Nogueira] brothers, I feel I’m in the best place in the world for
a MMA fighter.”

Jacaré, who has defeated Roger
Gracie twice in submission competitions, is also happy to be
part of Silva’s training.

“I didn’t get adapted at Xtreme Couture, but I was having nice
training with Saulo and Xande Ribeiro in San Diego,” he said.
“Actually I came here invited by GalvÃ£o just to visit him, but
Anderson and the whole group treated me so well that I decided to
stay. Now I’ve been training with them for almost two months.”

Jacaré is also scheduled to fight in Dream in April. The bout will
not be a rematch against Gegard
Mousasi, as many have thought.

“Mousasi went up to fight in another division. I don’t know who
will be my opponent, but I’ll be ready for him,” said Jacaré, who
has a record of 10-2 in MMA.

Asked for his opinion on the title bout between his new training
partner in Silva and the Nova UniÃ£o black belt in Leites, Jacaré
didn’t hesitate: “I hope Anderson gives 1,000 percent in this fight
and brings one more victory to us.”